Posted on 02/07/2018 2:37:35 PM PST by HKMk23
On 2/7/2018 9:25 AM, [The Local High School] wrote:
The annual game “Assassin” is now being played by students from [the local] High School. This game is not sanctioned, supported, or approved by [the school]. The [local] Police Department and the school are collectively concerned about the safety of our youth; thus, we are reaching out to parents and students with important information about this dangerous activity.
The game involves teams of seniors who are assigned “targets” whom they must “assassinate” using toy Nerf type guns that fire foam darts. Each participant pays an entry fee and after several rounds and several months of play, the winner is the last person standing. The winner collects a large pot of cash, the collection, and custody of which can create liability for the game organizer as participants often make accusations of mishandling or gouging of funds. There are specific rules concerning the type of weapon used, which cannot be altered or painted in any fashion. There are also rules regarding times and locations the subjects may be “assassinated,” and so on.
A major concern for parents, school staff, and [local] police is that the thrill of the game overrides common sense in many instances. Participants do not think about how their behavior is being viewed or interpreted by community members who see individuals with potentially dangerous weapons, often chasing others on foot or in vehicles, and surprising their “targets” in convenience stores. Non-participants can feel frightened or threatened as only participants are aware at the time that the behavior is not real but rather a game being played.
Unfortunately, our students and your children are engaging in behavior that has possible dire consequences. We want you as parents, students, and participants to be aware of the pitfalls, dangers, and consequences of taking part in the game.
Some examples of dangerous behavior among participants include: painting or disguising weapons to make them look more realistic; reaching for concealed weapons in public places; lying in wait behind bushes, trash cans, vehicles or fences; accessing or hiding on the property of another, often late at night; waiting for a target while dressed in all black or camouflaged clothing; reckless driving to avoid being targeted; car loads of teens driving around “stalking” or “hunting” their targets; jumping out of moving vehicles to attack or flee from other participants; and conducting a “drive by” shooting of a target in a parking lot or public street.
When viewed through a non-participant’s eyes, the behaviors look and have all the elements of an actual threatening or violent event unfolding. They often prompt multiple calls to the police who respond to what they believe is a violent incident in progress. Not only does this consume significant time and resources of emergency personnel, it also jeopardizes the safety of our community when actual threats cannot be responded to in a timely manner. Furthermore, in the eyes of a startled homeowner protecting his or her family or property, a violent response to a player is quite possible.
[School] administration is urging students to consider the potential ramifications of their behavior and to avoid playing this game. Students will face suspension if any weapons, even imitation guns, are brought to school. If evidence is discovered of the game being played on campus, students will face disciplinary action. To the parents of participants and high school-aged children: please have a serious and candid conversation with your children about the very real dangers of this behavior. To participants: please recognize that the only people who know this is a game are those directly involved; others who see your behavior likely believe a real threatening situation is unfolding. To juniors and underclassmen, consider the dangers and problems with this game and do not participate when you become a senior.
Thank you,
[Local HS VP]
Have they banned ping-pong yet?
I’m with you...this sounds like a blast...but of course kids doing politically incorrect things must be controlled or outlawed.
http://www.sjgames.com/killer/
First published 1981. Source of handwringing and fainting ever since.
Lee Harvey Oswald must have played this as a kid huh. /s
ARTH ping!
You could have mentioned that this pathetic, nanny-state nonsense is coming from Pleasanton, California...a suburb of San Francisco.
https://patch.com/california/pleasanton/pleasanton-police-warn-parents-assassin-game
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Yeah, I know; that crazy ball can hit speeds in excess of 50mph!
Not the same school, but same general region.
I think all of the Admins went to a meeting and brought back the same hand-wringing boilerplate to email home.
Not surprising. The left never issues individualized responses to things they get wee-wee’d up about. They always convene some sort of meeting and figure out what their “unified front” is going to look like “in the face of this dire threat.” Individual thought and action are frowned upon.
It does sound kind of fun. And reinforces the adage; “Be kind, be polite, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet.”
My thoughts, exactly. It would be a lot of fun.
Yeah, and once we got older we used BB guns to reduce the “I got you/no you didn’t” dodge.
That poor HS official would get vapors if he saw what we did as kids. We would play war with B.B. guns and use firecrackers for hand grenades.
Real firearms were part of our lives. We always had them in our cars and trucks.
That poor HS official would get vapors if he saw what we did as kids. We would play war with B.B. guns and use firecrackers for hand grenades.
Real firearms were part of our lives. We always had them in our cars and trucks.
“We would play war with B.B. guns.”
There was a family near my house growing up; the kids went up in the hills and did that but sometimes with pellet rifles. We’re talking mid-1970’s SoCal.
I’ve met him; he’s a stand-up guy, but has to regurgitate whatever gets handed to him by “The Establishemnt”
A couple years back my neighbor calls me and says “Get your gun. There is a van full of armed dudes wearing masks in front of my house”. I looked out the front window and saw my neighbor pressed against the wall of his house with his .45 at the ready. In front of his house was, sure enough, a van with two dudes wearing masks and a couple more dudes getting out with what appeared to be carbines.
My neighbor was going to rush them.
Three squad cars flew into the scene and drew down on the dudes in the van.
They were kids playing nerf wars. And almost got there stupid f*cking heads blown off by a bunch of armed citizens and cops.
OBVIOUSLY these guys weren’t playing the same game by the same rules.
Locally, a central rule is NO PAINTED/MODDED NERF GUNS; they’ve gotta be bone-stock.
Ya paint it, yer out.
Ya mod it, yer out.
Stuff like you saw is what could happen otherwise.
Be glad the group you ran across were still using Nerf, not airsoft; lotta that hardware looks IDENTICAL to the real deal & no way to tell unless someone fires a BB or you get right up close.
Paint ball w/o the sting....and cheaper than paint ball and laser tag.....
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